An inquest into the death of seven-year-old Shanay Walker heard from the headteacher of the school she attended about 'missed opportunities' to address signs of concern.

Speaking at the inquest into Shanay's death, Peter Smalley, of Southglade Primary School, in Beckhampton Park, Bestwood Park, was questioned extensively about how safeguarding had changed at the school.

Shanay was a pupil at the school in January 2013. She died on July 31, 2014, after suffering a brain haemorrhage. Her body was covered in more than 50 other injuries.

Her paternal aunt Kay-Ann Morris, who lived in Beckhampton Road, Bestwood Park, was cleared of her murder at Nottingham Crown Court in June 2015, but was found guilty of child cruelty.

Shanay's paternal grandmother Juanila Smikle, who lived in Easegill Court, Top Valley, was arrested during the investigation into her granddaughter's death.

She was found guilty of five counts of child cruelty – one involving Shanay and four relating to other children – at Nottingham Crown Court in September 2016 following a retrial.

Nottinghamshire coroner Mairin Casey has been asking questions of teaching staff at the school regarding Shanay's welfare and safeguarding.

She put this question to Mr Smalley, after discussing safeguarding measures with him: "As you reflect back, you have read all the papers, what category applies to Shanay?

He replied: "Physical, emotional and neglect".

The coroner wanted to know how they (those descriptions) could be picked up at the school and Mr Smalley, giving evidence during the second week of the hearing, referred to a red book kept by Shanay's teacher and another staff member when Shanay was alive. He said the information in the book would now be reported in a safeguarding referral form.

He also acknowledged the seven-year-old's attendance was "something that was not addressed and should have been".

Miss Casey went through other issues concerning Shanay, such as incontinence and another matter involving her hair.

She told Mr Smalley: "There were multiple opportunities to address these signs?"

He replied: "There were".

She also pressed him about current safeguarding measures, saying: "I want to ask you what is in place at the moment in your school. One of the issues that has arisen is about communication between members of staff. How is information passed on?"

Mr Smalley, who became head teacher in September 2013, said: "A member of staff has to fill in a referral form which is passed to a member of the safeguarding team; one of three of us".

He insisted there was an accurate chronology of all concerns. If a referral went to the local authority, a phone call would be made to follow it up.

On Friday his colleague, Laura Shreeves, who worked at her school and was involved in safeguarding, said she was aware of four referrals involving Shanay, and two of those were made to the local authority.

She described there being a "team approach" to safeguarding.

Three people were involved in the process, including herself, and Monchih Ponty, the then assistant head teacher, who was the lead.

An "incident box" in reception evolved into a "safeguarding incident box" but Ms Shreeves, who spoke to the inquest on Friday afternoon, believed it was removed after an audit.

The coroner said earlier last week the inquest was to explore how professionals, who were involved with Shanay, assessed her and formed opinions, who cared for her, and how they shared information with one another.